TERMS OF REFERENCE Baseline Survey Consultancy --Enhance Public Trust, Security and Inclusion Programme

1. Background:

The Enhance Public Building Trust, Security and Inclusion Project is a Government of GuyanaUNDP project which aims to strengthen efforts towards deepening democratic practice and sustainable peace in Guyana through the following:

Empowering youth (and particularly women) to participate fully and constructively in governance, and to serve as agents for peaceful change; Enhance local capacity for participation in governance and enhance community security and safety; Strengthen the public discourse centered on inclusion and the constructive resolution of conflicts.

Between 2003 and 2006, the UNDP implemented Guyana Social Cohesion Programme, saw the building of national and local capacities for dialogue and for the reduction of inter-ethnic tension. An independent evaluation of the programme in October 2006 determined that the programme had contributed to the violence-free election in 2006, and to an increase in the levels of public trust and confidence in the country. The evaluation also recommended that these initial gains needed to be consolidated through a deepening of social cohesion, and trustbuilding activities, at the community level. The Enhance Public Trust, Security and Inclusion Programme seeks to consolidate the initial gains made through the Social Cohesion Programme. The complex challenges of achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and of constructively managing the countrys ethnic and social diversity, coupled with threats to the security of citizens and communities from criminal elements all warrant a strengthening of ongoing efforts and a consolidation of the gains. These gains at the national level continue to have trickle down effects at the local level, especially among youth. New initiatives in the post-2006 elections towards greater inclusion and constructive conversation among different stakeholders and government strengthen social stability and participation at many levels. There however remain many challenges but several opportunities also presents themselves. Guyana continues to grow economically, with the private sector increasingly supporting efforts to build a more inclusive society.

Efforts are in train to review the local government laws by a bi-partisan committee which once approved, will create a new hybrid and more inclusive local government system. 2. The Programme:

The programme, which is supported by the Government of Guyana and implemented by UNDP, will have three (3) critical areas of engagement, namely:

Youth Empowerment and Livelihood empowering youth and particularly women to participate fully and constructively in governance, and to serve as agents for peaceful change; Enhancing Community dialogue and Social Cohesion - enhancing local capacity for participation in governance and enhancing community security and safety; Reducing Risks.

The programme is anchored in a community-based approach and will support interventions in five (5) regions mainly, including regions # 3,4,5,6, & 10, but is also expected to undertake activities in sixty-five (65) Neighborhoods Democratic Councils (NDCs) across the country. To further this programme and to ensure that it responds to the express needs of its intended beneficiaries while ensuring that maximum gains are derived, the GOG/UNDP EPTSI programme is seeking to recruit an institution (University, Research Institute, or Company) to conduct a baseline survey. 3. Objectives

The results of the survey will be reflected in a comprehensive, detailed analytical report that: i) Provides an up to date status of the skills training programmes available in the country by each of the 10 regional administrations offered by both the government and civil society; this should advise on where the programmes are offered and by whom, courses offered, duration of courses, prerequisites to enter courses, skills acquired and fees charged, if required. Provides information on the immediate skills needs of the business community (including those in the agricultural sector) by region including a five-year projection of their skills needs. Provides statistical review of the number of school leavers by region, gender, and the number of school drop-outs by region and gender.

ii)

iii)

iv)

Provides information on areas for skills training as indentified by the communities and youth. Provides approaches to making the skills training programmes (a) more responsive to the training needs of the youth and the business community and (b) by region. Provides results of a random sample of persons from identified communities considered to be at risk in 5 regions; the areas/issues of conflict within their communities and in the larger society; and their views/attitudes towards resolution of these.

v)

vi)

It is expected that the results of the survey will assist the EPTSI programme to develop actions at the community and regional levels based on solid empirical data and research information:

Existing skills training programmes and the gaps, if or where these exist; Existing skills needs of the business community and by region Determine the extent of school leavers and school drop outs among the unemployed and their skills needs by region Determine the levels to which select regions/communities are affected by conflict, including domestic and sexual violence and Determine the level of security & safety consciousness in select regions/communities and assess the need for community based safe neighbourhood programmes. Scope of Work and Expected Output

4.

The Institution will conduct research with government institutions and non-government organizations in relation to item (i) and (iii) and the business community at (ii) above as well as field surveys (iv, v, vi). The Institution will work under the guidance of the project manager, who will coordinate the project and provide technical support. The Institution will be expected to perform the following tasks:

Develop the methodology for the field surveys (sample size, methodology of random sampling, questionnaire) and a research plan: Present these to the Project Board and Outcome Board for approval Conduct training programmes for local community-based field staff (where possible) to equip them to carry out the field surveys in the 5 regions; Conduct research and analysis of current and/ or planned youth skills training programmes. Conduct focus group sessions in identified communities with community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, civil society bodies with programmes in

those communities, local government bodies, government agencies and the police and army in those communities: Create a comparative map of the available skills training programmes and the skills needs gap Compile a report analysing the situation with respect to the above issues, including recommendations for where training interventions need to be made, as well as the type of interventions which could reduce domestic violence and curb the use of violent instruments, including illegal weapons.

The Institution will produce the following outputs:

Report on the available types of skills training in the selected regions and neighbourhoods; Report giving recommendations on types of training programmes necessary, how they should be implemented and where it is most needed; Report on level of conflict and security consciousness existing in select neighbourhoods and make recommendations to designing community security plans, and Present the findings to the Project Implementation Unit, Project Board and the Outcome Board and be available if the latter so determines to present findings to different levels of society, both government and non-government.
METHODOLOGY

5.

The Institution will be responsible for developing a sound survey methodology based on best practices. This will include standard methodological tools for sampling and be cognizant of demographic, gender and ethnic representation. The survey forms must be subjected to pre-testing to ensure they are user friendly and country specific. The Institution is expected to present their methodological approach for approval by the Project Board as well as their research plan for the non-field activities. In order to ensure the best quality data collection, retrieval and analysis, the Institution will submit a quality control plan to the Project Board for approval. The Institution will also design and implement a system for data entry and tabulation. This system should be explained in a document, which has to be approved by the Project Board before the data analysis starts. The Institution will enter the data with suitable quality controls.

The Institution will provide the data and results of the survey, according to the agreed data analysis plan. Before finalizing the survey report, the Institution will present its preliminary findings to the Project Board and the final report should reflect the views of the Project Board. On the approval of the two Boards, the final report will be shared in the first instance with the identified communities which were subjects of the field surveys and those entities which were part of the community focal group meetings. Subsequently, the findings would be given wider circulation and discussion. The Institution will review any existing information and documentation on skills training for youth, conflict management, social cohesion, and community security (e.g. studies, reports, evaluations, assessments) done by government or non- government agencies. The Institution will need to work closely with the Project Manager and staff from satellite units in the key ministries, the Project Assurance team, and the Project Board as well as relate to international development partners, as required.

6.

EXPECTED RESULTS

An evidence based report that clearly addresses the areas outlined in (i) to (vi). The report based on empirical data and research findings will provide recommendations, useful and relevant to, the implementation of the GOG/UNDP EPTSI programme.

7.

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

An Institution will be contracted by Project Implementation Unit. The Institution will operate under the guidance of the Project Manager, the Boards of the Enhance Public Trust, Security and Inclusion Programme. The Institution will report to the Project Board through the Project Manager.

8.

ADMINISTRATION

The Project Implementation Unit will disburse payments to the Institution at a rate indicated in section 9 of the ToR. The Project Implementation Unit will cover transportation DSA costs for field surveys outside of Georgetown as well as other survey related cost such as refreshments for focus group discussion participants.

9.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Payment will be made according to the following schedule: 10% on approval of a detailed work plan by Project Implementation Unit. 20% on submission of the desk review accepted by the Project Board. 40% on submission of the report as outlined in sections 3,4,5,6 and 10 to the Project Board. 30% on submission of the final report that is accepted by the Project Board after completion of the processes as determined by the Project Board and the Outcome Board to be submitted no later than eighteen weeks after the signing of the contract between UNDP and the successful institution. TIMELINE

10.

The timeline for the completion of the baseline survey is eighteen weeks from the date the contract is signed between UNDP and the successful institution.

11.

COMPETENCY AND EXPERTISE REQUIREMENTS

The Institution is expected to demonstrate it has a track record of no less than ten (10) years executing similar surveys in developing countries with diverse geographic and ethnic compositions. The institution should also list the scale of similar projects worked on in the past.

The Institutions experts are expected to display High sensitivity to conflict settings and diversity issues; Good interpersonal, administrative and project management skills; High level of experience in research methods, data collection and analysis.

And to provide experts who are university graduates with A minimum bachelors degree in statistics, survey methodology, computer programme design and or programme analyst as well as field research experience based on development, sociological and security studies;

At least seven (7) years experience in executing similar research and field surveys in the areas of Conflict Resolution and Social Cohesion programmes and or experience in designing and conducting census or household surveys;. Demonstrable track record of field surveys in different types of environments community-based, rural and semi-urban. Strong research coordination skills, analytical capacities and ability to synthesize complex inputs into coherent user-friendly documents.

Fluency in English.